Budget.com Reviews - 346

We booked a convertible but

We booked a convertible but after waiting forever in line, they didn't have it. They gave us a free upgrade instead, saying it included tolls and gas. When we returned the car, we got billed extra for tolls, gas, and GPS. Called customer service, got disconnected while on hold, then called again and they only refunded $50 of the $164 charge. The rental agreement we signed didn't match what the agent told us. Lesson learned: always get a printed agreement before leaving the counter. The agents are too rushed and don't explain properly. Never renting from Budget again.

Rented a car from Budget

Rented a car from Budget in Geneva. Returning it was a total disaster. The guy handling returns tried to make me pay for scratches that were already there. Luckily, I had photos from the start, but he was super rude about it. Then, he charged me 12 CHF for fuel even though the tank was full. I even had a photo to prove it, but he threatened to call the police if I kept arguing. It wasn't worth the hassle, so I just let it go. He also refused to give me a copy of my contract. Overall, a really frustrating experience. Will think twice before renting from them again.

Pretty poor experience ever

I recently had a pretty frustrating experience with this car rental company. When I picked up the car, the fuel tank was only half full, but I didn’t think much of it at the time. Before returning it, I made sure to fill it up completely, thinking I was doing the right thing. To my surprise, they still charged me £60 for a refill! It felt like they were trying to pull a fast one on me. On top of that, they tried to charge us for some damage that was already there when we got the car. It was like dealing with professional scammers. Definitely not using them again.

I rented a car in

I rented a car in Seattle and needed to extend my rental by a day because of a family emergency. I was pretty shocked when I saw the bill. That one extra day cost me as much as the first two days combined, making the total for three days over $600. When I reached out to customer service to get some clarity on the charges, the representative couldn't provide a clear explanation. It was pretty frustrating not getting a straight answer about the pricing. I felt like the whole thing was just way too expensive, especially for what was supposed to be just an extra day.

Avoid this company at all

Avoid this company at all costs. Rented a car on Sunday night, drove to my cousin's place. Didn’t use it Monday. Tried starting it on Tuesday, battery was dead. They came to jump-start it, but everything shuts off when the car is off, so it wasn’t my fault. Didn’t use it Wednesday, and by Thursday the battery was dead again. We were flying out Friday, so I told them to pick it up from the airport. Was shocked to get a bill for $259 for the jump and tow. Called them, and they said I didn’t have roadside assistance. Why would I need that on a new car? Never again.

It’s frustrating

I rented a car at RDU, and let me tell you, it was a bit of a ride. Everything seemed smooth when I picked up the car—they were all smiles and super friendly. But guess what? A few days later, I checked my e-bill and noticed an extra $55 charge. I felt a bit cheated, honestly. It’s like they just sneak those extra fees in there without blinking. I mean, they were all like, "Just sign here, everything's good!" Only to find out later that it wasn't. It’s frustrating to think you're getting a good deal, only to find out they’ve added a little surprise to your bill.

I recently rented a car

I recently rented a car from Budget team at Lambert St. Louis Airport and had an awful experience. They gave me not one, but two unsolicited upgrades, each one increasing my costs. To make things worse, the so-called upgraded car had a defect. I had made a reservation in advance through Rental Cars, but they didn’t stick to it, causing even more extra costs. The staff was anything but friendly, and their rude behavior made me feel completely dismissed. They gave zero respect to my concerns. It was a nightmare from start to finish. I’m definitely not going back.

I rented a car twice

I rented a car twice recently, and both times they sneaked in extra charges, thinking I wouldn't catch on. They slapped on fuel charges even though the tank was full when I returned it. Then, they added a prepaid toll fee, which I had clearly said no to. I spent an hour on the phone trying to sort it out, only to find out later that they'd tacked on even more charges instead of issuing a credit. It's like they're running a scam! This experience has made me super cautious, and I won't be using their services again. Be careful if you decide to rent from them!

So I thought I'd save

So I thought I'd save some time by using Budget's 'quick pass' system. You fill in your details online before your flight, and the idea is you can skip the queue and grab your keys right away. Sounds great, right? Well, it wasn’t. When I arrived, there was no one at the quick pass desk or the Avis preferred desk it's linked with. Ended up waiting in line for over half an hour, completely defeating the purpose. By the time I got my car, I missed dinner plans after a long flight. Really disappointing experience. Definitely won’t be using their service again.

I tried out this rental

I tried out this rental service, thinking their Fastbreak program would save me time. They said everything was ready to go, so I was feeling pretty confident. But then I got to the airport, and guess what? Total chaos. They told me I wasn’t in the system, and I ended up waiting over an hour and a half. Meanwhile, other rental counters seemed to be breezing through customers in no time. It was super frustrating watching everyone else get their cars so fast. Not what I expected at all. Wouldn't recommend if you're in a hurry or want a stress-free experience.

I had a terrible experience

I had a terrible experience with this car rental company. When I picked up the car, the front tire was making a strange noise. Not long after, it went completely flat, and I had to change the tire on the side of the highway or face extra charges. When I returned to exchange the car, they didn't mention any additional fees, but I recently got a bill for almost $90. I tried reaching out to them, but nobody responded. Their customer service is just awful, and they were openly rude. I'm never using their services again. They've lost me as a customer for good.

You know, dealing with this

You know, dealing with this company was a real mess. When I reached out to their customer service, it felt like I was shouting into a void—took ages to hear back, and once I got a reply, that was it. They just ghosted me after that. The situation at Nashville International Airport (BNA) was chaotic. I had to swap cars four times in a month, which was a huge hassle. It seemed like nobody there knew what they were doing. The whole experience was incredibly frustrating, and I’ve decided I’m not going to deal with them again. It's just not worth the headache.

Just awful! Booked two 12-passenger

Just awful! Booked two 12-passenger vans from Tucson airport 5 months ahead for our group trip. Canceled one when our group size shrank, but when we went to pick up the other, they said it wasn't available because Kamala Harris was in town and politicians get priority. Asked for a manager, and suddenly the van was “damaged and unrentable.” Which story is it? And what happened to the second van? Their solution was a 4-passenger sedan. Seriously? Completely unreliable and unprofessional. Can't count on them to rent you a car. Super frustrating experience.

I used to enjoy renting

I used to enjoy renting from Budget, but my last two experiences were frustrating. They charged me an extra $20 each time. Apparently, their new policy is if you don’t drive at least 75 miles, they add a $17 fee plus tax for gas. This is ridiculous because I made sure to fill up the tank before returning the cars. But now, you have to call them after the rental to confirm you filled up the gas tank. You can't just tell the person at the counter when you return the car. It's such a hassle and really inconvenient. Honestly, it's just not worth it anymore.

Man, renting cars should be

Man, renting cars should be easy, right? But with Budget and Avis in Australia, it's a nightmare every time. I’ve dealt with a lot of companies over the years, but these two take the cake in bad service. Last four cars I rented? Each time was worse than the last. Staff is rude and couldn't care less. You'd think after one or two bad experiences, it might be a fluke, but nope, it’s the same everywhere. Four different offices, same awful attitude. They seriously need to train their staff to at least be polite. Renting a car shouldn't be this frustrating.

You wouldn't believe the hassle

You wouldn't believe the hassle I went through renting a car. I booked online, then called just to double-check everything was set. They assured me my car would be ready. I show up, and before I could even say anything, they tell me they don't honor same-day reservations from the website. And this after they've already taken my money! I couldn't book with another company because of it, so I was completely stuck in Cincinnati. The whole experience was such a mess, and I still can't believe how poorly they handled everything. Avoid if you can, seriously.

Run!

I rented a car recently, and things went south pretty quick. They slapped on a 20% location surcharge, which I thought was just for the rental itself. Turns out, they added this to other charges too, like damages and refueling, plus VAT on top of everything. Felt like a complete overcharge! And when I reached out to sort it out, it took them a month to respond. They just brushed me off, saying it's all legal. Seriously? I’d already paid the airport pick-up fee, so why pile on more fees later? It just doesn’t make sense. Renting from them again? No way!

I booked a car online

I booked a car online for ten days at $35 a day, and they made me pay the whole amount upfront. But plans changed, and I only used the car for three days. When I brought it back, they gave me a number to call for a refund. Checked my bill and saw they charged me $228 for those three days instead. Called the number, and they said no refunds. Now, I'm stuck waiting for a manager to call me back. This whole experience has been so frustrating and confusing. Feels like they just want to keep the extra money. Definitely not happy with how this turned out.

I got this call from

I got this call from Budget, right? The guy asked for my passport and driving license numbers, saying it would speed things up. Sounded pretty helpful at the time. But then, the contract came back and it was 100 euros more expensive. I hadn't agreed to any extras or anything. Plus, they signed the contract electronically without even asking me. Felt kinda shady, honestly. I was trying to save some money, not get hit with surprise charges. Definitely not what I expected, and it left a bad taste in my mouth. Might think twice before using them again.

I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone

I gotta say, Lake Point Centre on Okeechobee Blvd is a no-go for me. Went there twice, both times had to deal with the same rude manager. At first I thought maybe she just had a bad day, but then I saw her being super rude to other customers, mostly people of color. She wasn’t treating everyone the same, and it was pretty clear. Honestly, it's really messed up. She definitely needs some serious customer service training or should be fired. This place really needs to get its act together. I’m never coming back, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

I can't believe how bad

I can't believe how bad my experience was at OKC airport. Waited over two hours for a car, despite being a preferred member. Got pulled out of line, told to go inside, then told they couldn't help and had to get back in line. Total chaos. Tried to get a refund through customer service, but they credited someone else's account and sent me their receipt. A month of back-and-forth emails, and still no refund. It's unbelievable how disorganized and unhelpful they are. For a company this big, you'd expect better. Totally frustrating and disappointing.

It felt like a complete rip-off

So, I rented a car from Budget at Geneva Airport and thought I had everything sorted with unlimited mileage. But nope, surprise charges hit me hard just for driving into France. France, which is like right next door! I mean, come on, who does that? They didn’t mention anything about these extra fees beforehand. It felt like a complete rip-off. If you're planning on crossing borders, be careful with these guys, they’ll charge you an arm and a leg. Definitely not using them again. Look elsewhere if you want to avoid hidden charges and frustration.

Absolutely awful

Okay, so let me tell you about my experience with this rental company. It was absolutely awful. They charged an insane $10 per gallon to refill the gas when the local price was just $3 in Sarasota. Trying to reach them was a nightmare, they didn’t answer calls or emails. I felt completely ignored. On top of that, the car they gave us was in terrible condition. We travel a lot and have used many rental services, but this was by far the worst. Their customer service is practically non-existent. Honestly, save yourself the trouble and go elsewhere.

I rented a car from

I rented a car from Budget at Tivat Airport and it was a complete disaster. I paid extra for zero excess cover, thinking I was fully protected. But when I arrived, the manager told me that the basic insurance wasn't covered and tried to charge me an extra premium per day. It wasn’t just me; the lady in front of me and the guy behind me faced the same scam. I’ve worked in travel for years and thought these shady practices were a thing of the past. Seems like this Budget branch is exploiting customers and Budget doesn't care. Truly disappointing.

I had prepaid my car

I had prepaid my car rental online, thinking everything was sorted. But when my flight got delayed by 90 minutes, they slapped on an extra 70% charge! I couldn't believe it. It’s not like I could control the delay, but they didn’t care at all. Their policy was so rigid and inflexible. I tried to explain, but they just stuck to their rules. It was really frustrating, especially after a long flight. I felt like they were just taking advantage of the situation. Overall, what should've been an easy pickup turned into a really annoying experience.

I rented a car, and

I rented a car, and thought I was getting a good deal. When I picked it up, everything seemed fine, but I missed a scratch on the wheel hub. Fast forward to returning the car, and they hit me with a massive charge for the damage. I’ve been trying to contact them since July, only getting automated replies. It’s super frustrating and feels like they’re just ignoring me. What seemed like a budget-friendly option turned into a nightmare. I’d say, steer clear of this company unless you want to deal with hidden costs and terrible customer service.

I arrived at BWI airport

I arrived at BWI airport all set to pick up my rental car, and it was a complete mess. No one was at the counter where I was supposed to get my car. Instead, there was a sign directing everyone to the AVIS counter. I thought maybe it wouldn't be too bad, but when I got there, I couldn't believe my eyes – there must've been a hundred people in line. It was just chaos and such a massive waste of time. I ended up standing there, waiting and frustrated, wondering how a company could be so disorganized. Not the experience I was hoping for at all.

What a nightmare.

Man, what a nightmare. Rented a car for a family trip, and everything went sideways. They gave us a drop-off location, but then claimed it was the wrong spot. Charged us for an extra day, a car recovery fee, and even for gas even though we returned it at the same level. To top it off, got a parking ticket for leaving the car where they told us to. Customer service was no help at all, just got mad when we complained and tried every trick to avoid refunding our money. Honestly, save yourself the hassle and avoid this company at all costs.

I was really looking forward

I was really looking forward to kick-starting my vacation with a cool sports car I had reserved. But guess what? They handed me a cramped SUV instead. My options were limited to that or a truck. Who wants a truck on a vacation? Plus, the SUV reeked of cigarette smoke, even though it was supposed to be a non-smoking vehicle. Both my son and I are allergic to smoke, and we ended up needing prescriptions for the weekend. Such a hassle. Definitely not renting from Budget again, especially at Louisville International Airport. Total letdown.

Let me tell you about

Let me tell you about my experience with Budget. I thought I was getting a great deal with their low rates, but when it came time to pay, the cost had doubled. The surprise? It was mostly taxes, but they also tacked on insurance I didn't need. I was already covered by my credit card, but they didn’t bother to ask. And the wait! I stood in line for almost three hours just to pick up the car. There were only a couple of people at the counter trying to manage a crowd of over 50 folks. It was a mess, really. Definitely not what I expected.